Geriatric Emergencies: Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

Gerontolgy

A

Scientific study of the effects of aging and of age-rafted diseases on humans.

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2
Q

Geriatrics

A

The study of treatment of diseases of the aged

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3
Q

Ageism

A

Discrimination against aged or elderly people

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4
Q

Functional impairment

A

Decreased ability to meet daily needs on an independent basis

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5
Q

Comorbidity

A

Having more than one disease at a time

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6
Q

Dysphagia

A

Inability to swallow or difficulty swallowing

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7
Q

Polypharmacy

A

Multiple drug therapy in which there is a concurrent use of a number of drugs.

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8
Q

Incontinence

A

Inability to retain urine or feces because of loss of sphincter control or cerebral or spinal lesions

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9
Q

Transient ischemic attack

A

Reversible interruption of blood flow to the brain: often seen as a precursor to a stroke.

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10
Q

Anorexia nervosa

A

Eating disorder marked by excessive fasting

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11
Q

Cataracts

A

Medical condition in which the lens of the eye loses ins clearness

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12
Q

Glaucoma

A

Medical condition where the pressure within the eye increases

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13
Q

Tinnitus

A

Subjective ringing or tingling sound in the ear.

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14
Q

Menier’s disease

A

A disease of the inner ear

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15
Q

Kyphosis

A

Exaggeration of the normal posterior curvature of the spine

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16
Q

Anoxic hypoxemia

A

An oxygen deficiency due to disordered pulmonary mechanisms of oxygenation.

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17
Q

Hypertrophy

A

An increase in the size or bulk of an organ.

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18
Q

Fibrosis

A

The formation of firebrick connective tissue, also called scar tissue, in an organ

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19
Q

Marfan Syndrome

A

Hereditary condition of connective tissue, bones, muscles, ligaments, and skeletal structures characterized by irregular and unsteady gait, tall lean body type with long extremities, beat feet, and stooped shoulders. The aorta is usually dilated and may become weakened enough to allow an aneurysm to develop.

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20
Q

Hiatal Hernia

A

Protrusion of the stomach upward into the mediastinal cavity through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.

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21
Q

Osteoporosis

A

Softening of bone tissue due to the loss of essential minerals, principally calcium.

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22
Q

Nephrons

A

There functional units of the kidneys.

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23
Q

Immune senescence

A

Diminished vigor of the immune response to the challenge and rechallenge by pathogens.

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24
Q

Silent myocardial infarction

A

A myocardial infarction that occurs without exhibiting obvious signs and symptoms

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25
Q

Two-pillow orthopnea

A

The number of pillows- in this case, two— needed to ease the difficulty of breathing while lying down; a significant factor in assessing the level of respiratory distress.

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26
Q

Nucturnia

A

Excessive urination during the night

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27
Q

Hypatomegaly

A

Enlarged liver

28
Q

Aortic dissection

A

A degeneration of the wall of the aorta

29
Q

Aneurysm

A

Abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usually an artery, due to a congenital defect or a weakness in the wall of the vessel.

30
Q

Epistaxis

A

nosebleed

31
Q

Varicosities

A

An abnormal dilation of a vein or group of veins

32
Q

Autonomic dysfunction

A

An abnormality of the involuntary aspect of the nervous system.

33
Q

Valsalva Maneuver

A

Forced exhalation against a closed glottis, such as with coughing. This maneuver stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve, which in turn slows the heart rate.

34
Q

Stokes-Adams Syndrome

A

A series of symptoms resulting from heart block, most commonly syncope. The symptoms result from decreased blood flow to the brain caused by the sudden decrease in cardiac output.

35
Q

Sick Sinus Syndrome

A

A group of disorders characterized by dysfunction of the senatorial node in the heart.

36
Q

Stroke

A

Injury to or death of brain tissue resulting from interruption o cerebral blood flow and oxygenation.

37
Q

Brain Ischemia

A

Injury to brain tissues caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients.

38
Q

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

A

Bleeding that occurs between the arachnoid and dura mater of the brain.

39
Q

Polycythemia

A

An excess of red blood cells.

40
Q

Vertigo

A

The sensation of faintness of dizziness; may cause a loss of balance

41
Q

Intractable

A

Resistant to cure, relief, or control.

42
Q

Dementia

A

A deterioration of mental status that ins usually associated with structural neurologic disease. It is often progressive and irreversible.

43
Q

Delirium

A

An acute alteration in mental functioning that is often reversible.

44
Q

Senile Dementia

A

General term used to describe an abnormal decline in mental functioning seen in the elderly; also called “organic brain syndrome” or “multi-infarct dementia.”

45
Q

Aphasia

A

Absence or impairment of the ability to communicate through speaking, writing, or signing as a result of brain dysfunction.

46
Q

Alzheimer’s Disease

A

A progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking, and behavior. It affects 4 million American adults.

47
Q

Parkionson’s Disease

A

Chronic, degenerative nervous disease characterized by tremors, muscular weakness and rigidity, and a loss of postural reflexes.

48
Q

Shy-Drager Syndrome

A

Chronic orthostatic hypotension caused by a primary autonomic nervous system deficiency.

49
Q

Pill-rolling motion

A

An involuntary tremor, usually in one hand or sometimes in both, in which fingers move as if they were rolling a pill back and forth.

50
Q

Retinopathy

A

Any disorder of the retina.

51
Q

Mensenteric Infarct

A

Death of tissue in the peritoneal fold (mesentery) that encircles the small intestine; a life-threatening condition.

52
Q

Melena

A

A dar, tarry stool caused by the presence of “digested” free blood.

53
Q

Pressure ulcer

A

Ischemic damage and subsequent necrosis affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and often the muscle; result of intense pressure over a short time or low pressure over a long time; also known as pressure sore or bedsore.

54
Q

Pruritus

A

Itching; often occurs as a symptom of some systemic change or illness.

55
Q

Herpes Zoster

A

An acute eruption caused by a a reactivation of latent varicella virus (chickenpox) in the dorsal root ganglia; also known as shingles.

56
Q

Maceration

A

Process of softening a solid by soaking it in a liquid.

57
Q

Osteoarthritis

A

A degenerative joint disease, characterized by a loss of articular cartilage and hypertrophy of bone.

58
Q

Osteoporosis

A

Softening of bone tissue due to the loss of essential minerals, principally calcium.

59
Q

Glomerulonephrities

A

A form of nephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys’ primarily involves the glomeruli, one of the capillary networks that are part of the renal corpuscles in the nephrons.

60
Q

Urosepsis

A

Septicemia originating from the urinary tract.

61
Q

Substance abuse

A

Misuse of chemically active agents such has alcohol, psychoactive chemicals, and therapeutic agents; typically results in clinically significant impairment or distress.

62
Q

Hypochondriasis

A

An abnormal concern with one’s health, with the false belief of suffering from some disease, despite medical assurances to the contrary; commonly known as hypochondria.

63
Q

Dysphoria

A

An exaggerated feeling of depression or unrest, characterized by a mood of general dissatisfaction, restlessness, discomfort, and unhappiness.

64
Q

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

A

Respiratory insufficiency marked by progressive hypoxemia, due to sever inflammatory damage.

65
Q

Geriatric Abuse

A

A syndrome in which an elderly person is physically or psychologically injured by another person.

66
Q

Spondylosis

A

A degeneration of the vertebral body.